Elves

In elven lore, their species originates from Arvandor, the heavenly home where all elves will return after their death. However, evidence points that the first elves arrived from the Faerie Realm, a plane of wild imagination separated from the material world of mortals by a mystic veil.
As beings formed by raw magic and emotion, elves have inherent spellcasting ability and lack the need to sleep. Elves are most easily discerned by their lithe built and elongated, pointed ears. As a point of intrigue, full-blooded elves often have thick, long, colorful hair on their heads, but cannot grow body or facial hair.

History

The original, primordial elves are called eladrin in elvish language, meaning the "first folk". Because time flows differently in the Faerie Realm, the eladrin are practically immortal, their very being tied to nature and its cycle of seasons. For a reason lost in history, elves left the plane of the fey folk en masse during the Primal Age in what is known as the "elven diaspora". In the mortal realm, they rapidly lost their ageless nature and adapted to their new environments, but remained as one of the longest living species and retained their connection to the flow of magic. Their first nation in the continent of Chronan was Tar Glaedost, which by the Steaming Age was known as Grandwood.
Historians know that some elves sailed across Mare Mediator to the eastern continent, where they founded the forest nation of Alvanystria. In time, however, it was taken over by dragons. Only few survivors ever made it back to Chronan to tell the tale.
Due to their inherent magical capabilities, many elven nations survived the Fellstar cataclysm and the ensuing Ashen Age when the sun was covered for two millennia relatively unharmed. Officially elves were quick to adapt to the regime of The Order at the start of the Steaming Age, but there were and still are many dissenters that long for the old ways and faiths. Many prominent elves are members of the Chimeran Magisterium, for example. When the grandiose architecture in the great cities of Iovillon, renamed Jubileum when the High King's rule ended, was enhanced with bright neon lights and steam technology, it caused internal turmoil within parts of the society, but they kept their tongue. As one of the most long-lived species, elves know that nothing is permanent, and all it takes is patience to see the times change again.

Faith

There are no organized religions in the Faerie Realm, but elves have always had a natural affinity towards the spirits of nature and magic. When elves migrated to the mortal world, this affinity turned into a worship of ancestral spirits. In time, the names of their forebearers, especially those of influential leaders and heroes, started to be revered in a manner a kin to deities. As an example, Filovan Mellonduil, the Sage of Tar Glaedost, who protected his people from a mighty green dragon, is prayed to as a source of knowledge and guidance. Some claim his name evolved into the deity Philomelo, who is depicted as a genderless elf.
Among the elves of Iovillon, Filovan Mellonduil was considered as the first "High King" in a long line of rulers with god-like status among their people. Eventually, even the current living High King became worshipped as a god-ruler, and their death was merely considered to be ascension to the heavenly ancestral homeland of Arvandor. The rule of the High Kings was unquestionable and uncontested until the eve of The Order Order, which started when the Eight Prophets prophets of different gods congregated and started a new religion based on technological advancement. One of the prophets was Thalastir, a scholar from Iovillon who loathed the corrupt and unjust rule of the High Kings, who convinced the majority of elven people to abandon the god-rulers and trust their faith on the Gods of Time and Order. Not all of them did, however, and the old faith still lingers in the shadows of society.

Subspecies

Elves are inherently magical creatures, and such they are quick to adapt to any surroundings they decide to settle into, the transformation happening within a few generations. That is why there are so many different kinds of elves in the continent of Chronan alone.

Eladrin

The eladrin that stayed in the Faerie Realm remained unchanged over the millennia, and very few ventured out to Other Planes after the diaspora unless they were forcibly banished. In the continent of Chronan, the Grandwood in the Reignstone region has an especially close connection to the Faerie Realm even during the Steaming Age, but secret portals can be found all over the world.

High Elves

Elves that settled on sunkissed plains and formed mighty kingdoms became known as High Elves. They valued art and beauty above all else, and regarded other species with disdain. The high elven kingdom of Iovillon in modern day Jubileum became especially notorious for its practice to enslave those that they deemed inferior, especially humans. Physically, they are usually taller than other elves, with hair of any color of the rainbow. In Iovillon, kings became comparable to gods, and each new ruler automatically rose to the high elven pantheon. This practice ended only when the faith of the Gods of Time and Order gained ground.

Wood Elves

Other elves decided to remain in the safety of deep forests became known as Wood Elves. They shun agriculture and urban development, and prefer to nurture their connection to the wilderness and its many beasts. They can be separated from other elves by their skin having hues of green or ochre, and they usually adorn themselves with fur, feathers, plants and bone jewelry.

Drow

Some elves found shelter underground in the Netherspan, and adapted to the shadows by developing dark, purple-hued skin and eyes that pierce even the deepest darkness. These elves call themselves Drow, while outsiders know them as Dark Elves. Life in the eternal darkness is not without dangers, and many drow tribes fell into the thralling webs of a demonic entity called the Spider Queen. These tribes became corrupted by evil and turned proud, cruel and callous. Some of those that evaded the foul enchantment escaped to the surface and turned their faith towards Maenataur, the personification of the Moon, as their sunlight-sensitivity forced them to lead a nocturnal life.

Sea Elves

Elves that travelled furthest met the shores of the endless oceans, and adapted into aquatic life as Sea Elves. Through magic they developed gills and webbed digits to allow underwater traversal. Their greatest nation in Chronan was Nyiss Velathyyr, but it was destroyed in The Fellstar Cataclysm and is known as the Forsaken Islands. Many sea elf tribes still live in the United Merdomes deep under Mare Mediator.

Shadar-Kai

In addition to the elves originating from the Faerie Realm, there are also elves living in the Shadow Realm, known as Shadar-Kai. It is uncertain if they share the same ancestry or are mirrored versions of each other. Shadar-Kai have pale complexions, gaunt features and a disagreeable nature. They follow an immortal being known as the Raven Conspirator that rules them from their Museum of Memories.

Half-elves

Unions between elves and humans became more common during the Steaming Age when the various nations of Chronan were brought under one banner. The offspring that results from these partnerships were known as half-elves. What came to their physical features, their pointed ears aren't as prominent, and they could grow body hair. Still, they retain many distinct features from their elven heritage that set them apart from humans. Half-elves often feel conflicted as children of two very different lineages, but in the modern world where diversity is more accepted, they can adapt to the society quite easily.
An elf and an orc can also produce offspring, resulting in an individual with deep green skin and colorful hair. Their ears and teeth are less pointed. These "elf-orcs" are called ur'laiquen in elvish, meaning "green folk of orcish descent". They have shown considerable bravery in the face of danger.